Australian animal health pharmaceutical company Virbac has voluntarily pulled its VeggieDent treats off the shelves after they were possibly linked to several cases of mysterious illnesses in dogs.
A Virbac spokesperson said that the products in question were pulled as a precautionary measure and no causal link has been established for the VeggieDent product line, which is only commercially available through veterinarians.
This is the third petfood contamination case in Australia in the past six months. In light of the situation, critics of Australia’s regulatory system overseeing petfood safety are calling for stronger measures to ensure the safety of Australia’s dogs and cats.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Company to plead guilty in melamine case
ChemNutra Inc., a feed ingredient company, and its owners Stephen and Sally Miller intend to plead guilty in connection to 2007’s melamine-tainted petfood case, according to an article from The Associated Press.
In 2008, the Millers and ChemNutra were charged with selling contaminated ingredients to petfood manufacturers after pets fell ill or died from eating the contaminated petfood.
The Millers’ attorney recently filed legal documents in Kansas City, Mo., which stated the Millers agreed to plead guilty after negotiating with prosecutors. The company will also enter a guilty plea at a hearing June 16, according to the documents.
In 2008, the Millers and ChemNutra were charged with selling contaminated ingredients to petfood manufacturers after pets fell ill or died from eating the contaminated petfood.
The Millers’ attorney recently filed legal documents in Kansas City, Mo., which stated the Millers agreed to plead guilty after negotiating with prosecutors. The company will also enter a guilty plea at a hearing June 16, according to the documents.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Planet Dog receives editor's choice award
Planet Dog, a developer of premium dog products, announced receiving an Editor's Choice Award from Yankee Magazine.
Editors named the Planet Dog store located in Portland, Maine, the "Best Store to Woof About."
Editors named the Planet Dog store located in Portland, Maine, the "Best Store to Woof About."
Thursday, June 4, 2009
CVM addresses questions about GRAS program
David Fairfield of the National Grain & Feed Association (NGFA) shared with the Pet Food Institute (PFI) answers to questions he raised with FDA regarding the GRAS notification program for animal feed announced earlier this year.
Geoffrey Wong, leader of the ingredient safety team at the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), provided the answers.
David Fairfield: Is there a planned date for when the program will be launched?
Geoffrey Wong: CVM plans to start the pilot program late summer of 2009. However, this date is not definite and will be impacted by a number of factors, such as receiving proper authorization to publish a Federal Register notice that will announce the pilot program.
DF: As I understand, this program is being characterized as a “pilot” project. I am curious as to what this means, such as will the agency initially be limiting the scope of the program to certain ingredients and to a certain timeframe?
GW: The program is considered a pilot program in the sense that the April 17, 1997 proposed rule has not yet been finalized. We intend to be operating under an interim policy similar to the one described in Section VIII of the April 17, 1997 proposed rule. The scope of the program will include substances intended for use in food for animals.
DF: Will there be an established timeframe for the agency to respond to industry GRAS notice submittals?
GW: CVM does not plan to have formal statutory deadlines of when the agency must respond to a firm’s GRAS notification. Our timeframes for reviewing the notices will be largely impacted by the resources available to CVM to implement the program.
DF: Will animal feed ingredients that receive a “no questions” review from CVM be listed in the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Official Publication?
GW: The FDA evaluation process for AAFCO feed ingredient definitions is very different from FDA’s process to evaluate GRAS notifications and these processes result in agency conclusions which are not equivalent.
In the AAFCO ingredient definition process, CVM serves as a science advisor to AAFCO to establish ingredient safety, evaluate utility of the ingredient for specific use (claim), and determine if the manufacturer’s process in under control and analytical methods are acceptable. As part of the review, FDA often evaluates proprietary safety data, utility data, and manufacturing data submitted by the firm.
In contrast for GRAS notifications, FDA reviews summarized data and information submitted by the notifier and data and information otherwise available to the Agency, to determine whether there is a basis to question the notifier’s view that the technical element (evidence of safety) and both facets of the common knowledge element regarding the use of the substance are satisfied – i.e., general availability and general acceptance (consensus).
CVM intends to have discussions with AAFCO to understand the manner in which state feed control officials will recognize a response letter from the agency stating that it has no questions regarding the rotifier's determination that the substance is GRAS under the intended conditions of use in animal food.
Geoffrey Wong, leader of the ingredient safety team at the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), provided the answers.
David Fairfield: Is there a planned date for when the program will be launched?
Geoffrey Wong: CVM plans to start the pilot program late summer of 2009. However, this date is not definite and will be impacted by a number of factors, such as receiving proper authorization to publish a Federal Register notice that will announce the pilot program.
DF: As I understand, this program is being characterized as a “pilot” project. I am curious as to what this means, such as will the agency initially be limiting the scope of the program to certain ingredients and to a certain timeframe?
GW: The program is considered a pilot program in the sense that the April 17, 1997 proposed rule has not yet been finalized. We intend to be operating under an interim policy similar to the one described in Section VIII of the April 17, 1997 proposed rule. The scope of the program will include substances intended for use in food for animals.
DF: Will there be an established timeframe for the agency to respond to industry GRAS notice submittals?
GW: CVM does not plan to have formal statutory deadlines of when the agency must respond to a firm’s GRAS notification. Our timeframes for reviewing the notices will be largely impacted by the resources available to CVM to implement the program.
DF: Will animal feed ingredients that receive a “no questions” review from CVM be listed in the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Official Publication?
GW: The FDA evaluation process for AAFCO feed ingredient definitions is very different from FDA’s process to evaluate GRAS notifications and these processes result in agency conclusions which are not equivalent.
In the AAFCO ingredient definition process, CVM serves as a science advisor to AAFCO to establish ingredient safety, evaluate utility of the ingredient for specific use (claim), and determine if the manufacturer’s process in under control and analytical methods are acceptable. As part of the review, FDA often evaluates proprietary safety data, utility data, and manufacturing data submitted by the firm.
In contrast for GRAS notifications, FDA reviews summarized data and information submitted by the notifier and data and information otherwise available to the Agency, to determine whether there is a basis to question the notifier’s view that the technical element (evidence of safety) and both facets of the common knowledge element regarding the use of the substance are satisfied – i.e., general availability and general acceptance (consensus).
CVM intends to have discussions with AAFCO to understand the manner in which state feed control officials will recognize a response letter from the agency stating that it has no questions regarding the rotifier's determination that the substance is GRAS under the intended conditions of use in animal food.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Maine committee rejects 1% petfood tax proposal
The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry stripped L.D. 964 of the language that would have established an additional 1% retail sales tax on petfood in Maine and then voted the bill out of committee, reported the Pet Food Institute.
When the Committee favorably voted for the tax on May 19, it did so without providing advance notice to the public that a higher sales tax on petfood was up for consideration.
Lobbying efforts brought the bill back to the Committee for reconsideration, where it was decided to cut out the tax increase proposal.
When the Committee favorably voted for the tax on May 19, it did so without providing advance notice to the public that a higher sales tax on petfood was up for consideration.
Lobbying efforts brought the bill back to the Committee for reconsideration, where it was decided to cut out the tax increase proposal.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
UK company sponsors dog training manual
UK-based dog food manufacturer Fish 4 Dogs announced the sponsorship of dog trainer and behaviorist Carolyn Menteith’s latest manual, 4 Paws Training Plan, which was launched at the recent Ultimate Pet Show, according to an article from GleeWire.
The company explained the sponsorship as a link between food nutrition and dog behavior.
"There is a lot that responsible dog owners can do to improve the health, fitness and behavior of their dogs by improving their diet and nutrition," said Jill Angell, Fish 4 Dogs founder.
The company explained the sponsorship as a link between food nutrition and dog behavior.
"There is a lot that responsible dog owners can do to improve the health, fitness and behavior of their dogs by improving their diet and nutrition," said Jill Angell, Fish 4 Dogs founder.
Monday, June 1, 2009
PetSmart gets product ideas from consumers
Edison Nation, which works with manufacturers and retailers to find and deploy product innovations, is now taking submissions for pet products from everyday people on behalf of PetSmart Inc.
Now through July 9 on Edison Nation’s Web site, anyone with an innovative idea for interactive pet toys and products can submit to PetSmart’s “Live Product Search” query.
“We specifically hope to discover interactive pet toys and products that help keep house pets of all ages, shapes and sizes entertained by their pet parents or while they are temporarily away,” says Bruce Richardson, PetSmart spokesman. “There’s a huge demand for products that will keep pets happy, occupied and distracted from possibly more destructive behavior.”
Now through July 9 on Edison Nation’s Web site, anyone with an innovative idea for interactive pet toys and products can submit to PetSmart’s “Live Product Search” query.
“We specifically hope to discover interactive pet toys and products that help keep house pets of all ages, shapes and sizes entertained by their pet parents or while they are temporarily away,” says Bruce Richardson, PetSmart spokesman. “There’s a huge demand for products that will keep pets happy, occupied and distracted from possibly more destructive behavior.”
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